Update: The meeting is over and so are my updates. Get tomorrow's paper at home, a store or online for more details.

Earlier update: The silence has ended. The shouting has begun among directors and one resident screaming from the audience at directors and administrators.

Earlier update: It's the board's turn to talk now. Stay tuned.

Earlier update: The crowd's silence here is unbelievable and so is the pain in Bethlehem schools administrators' voices as they unveil $7.8 million in budget cuts.

The public doesn't blame them as of yet. They blame Gov. Tom Corbett, who may be the most hated man in Bethlehem right now.

Residents blame him, not the Bethlehem Area school District.

"Gov. Corbett's budget is complete nonsense," said parent Barry Eisenberg. "We need to figure out a way to get one voice: No. it's not going to happen in Bethlehem."

59.5 teaching, administrative, coaching positions including 20 high school teachers, six elementary teachers, three high school guidance counselors, 13 family development specialisist and 12 high school coaches.50.5 non-professional positionsSavings = $7.6 million

Thus cuts that will be unveiled tonight are on top of other cuts the administraiton recommended earlier this year:

Total proposed workforce reductions = 167.5 jobs or 8 percent of the staff since January

Check back to Valley 610 for live updates from tonight's meeting.

Superintendent Joseph Roy will unveil $7.6 million in staff and program cuts that are needed to bridge the funding gap caused by Gov. Tom Corbett’s proposed budget that reduces public education spending by about $1.3 billion. Roy’s budget presentation to the School Board has been moved to 6 p.m. in East Hills Middle School’s auditorium to accommodate what is expected to be a large crowd.

“It’s not going to be pretty,” board Director Gene McKeon said the cuts. “They are looking at everything.”

Parents are already lining up to fight for programs they cherish for their children and neighborhood.

Maurene Schultheis, president of Clearview Elementary School’s the parent-teacher organization, urged the School Board and administration Monday to consider a higher tax increase to save programs. She said Clearview cannot afford to lose full-day kindergarten or its family center, which serves the health needs of the community. Schultheis also asked the board to pass a formal resolution opposing Corbett’s $27.3 billion budget, which does not raise taxes at the state level, for 2011-12.

“The state has burdened you with the difficult task of finding a way to fill the gaping pothole they have put in our road to achievement,” she said. “Please don’t abandon your well-constructed plans. Together, we can pave that road for all the students of Bethlehem.”

Under Corbett's plan, basic education subsidies would fall an average of 8.8 percent, largely because the first-time governor is not increasing the state's share enough to make up for the loss of federal stimulus money.

Corbett also would end grant funding for tutoring and full-day kindergarten programs, eliminate partial reimbursements for charter school students and cut funding for dual enrollment programs, pushing the total percentage loss for some districts into double digits.

The basic education subsidy reduction and other cuts add up to $1.3 billion. As he rolls back basic subsidies to 2008-09 levels, Corbett also wants to implement a voucher program that eventually would cost $1 billion by giving either tax money to families or tax credits to businesses to help finance children's education at private and parochial schools.

REALLY? WELL 5 YEARS FROM NOW WHEN THE STEEL STACKS DOESN'T PAY FOR ITSELF AND YOUR TAX DOLLARS HAVE TO GO UP BECAUSE OF ALL THE NEW POLICE AND THE NEW TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND FIXING ALL OF THE ROADS.YOU COME AND SEE ME BECAUSE YOU WON'T FEEL THE SAME ABOUT THEM.UNLESS OF COURSE YOU ARE ONE OF THEM..

Posted By: EDDIE LYNCH | Mar 24, 2011 7:11:47 PM

OH YEAH SOME OF THOSE MILLIONS YOU TALK ABOUT.USED TO BELONG TO THE EASTON SCHOOL DISTRICT...

Posted By: EDDIE LYNCH | Mar 24, 2011 7:12:53 PM

Im sorry, but this is ridiculous. This is the wrong way to be cutting budgets. Does anyone realize that our children. nieces, nephews, sisters, brothers, cousins, etc. are going to be the ones suffering from this. I mean really, making the classroom sizes bigger. Come on now, my daughters class already got 30 students in it. How many students do you think these teachers will be able to handle all at once. It already shows in the scores that they are not reaching out to all of them. How can they, when they dont have enough time in the day for all the students they have.
And then to hear about the SPARK program possibly being gone. Yet another STUPID move. As a former employee of the BASD, working with these children everyday is a gift. You get to watch them grow, and spend more time with most of them, then their own parents do. Some of these children need the extra attention and the extra time.
And the total kicker is this. After school programs, activities, sports. Either being cancelled, loss of coaches, or loss of funding. What will become of these students when these programs are gone. Does anyone realize that these programs are what keep a good percentage of kids out of trouble, and mind you off the streets. Alot of students/parents depend on these programs, for some it's all they have.
Instead of cutting these Teacher's, Coaches, Programs to save money, maybe, just maybe, the higher up should take a pay cut and drop down a little bit. It's really funny, and it kills me, that when it comes to cutting budgets, there are NEVER EVER any budget cuts for the higher up. There children still get the education, programs, sports, etc. And their family gets to continue to live high and mighty. There was obviously no thought put into this budget cut process. Im sorry, anyone could have come into this district and said hey lets cut school funding, programs, etc. Lets take even more away from these kids. Lets take the easy way out. The district went from one mess, and walked right into another. UNREAL!!!!

Posted By: Tina Mellon | Mar 24, 2011 7:59:45 PM

Happens. Get over it.

Posted By: Filthy_Rat | Mar 24, 2011 8:22:08 PM

THANK YOU TO ALL THE LITTLE PEOPLE IN BETHLEHEM FOR MAKING MUSIKFEST POSSIBLE
SU@KERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted By: J PARKS | Mar 24, 2011 8:28:43 PM

BOYCOTT MUSIKFEST

Posted By: FZAPPA | Mar 24, 2011 8:30:56 PM

More cuts and these bastards are still raising our taxes.

Posted By: Dave | Mar 24, 2011 8:31:09 PM

Well... the roosters have come home to roost. The few hundred people that showed up tonight are NOT indicative of the financial situation of the 10's of thousands of taxpayers in this District. The overwhelming majority will object to ANY increase in their already out of control SCHOOL taxes. Quite simply, there are too many programs like SPARK, full day K-garten and many, many others being fully subsidized by the taxpayers. While worthwhile, all non-essential programs should be pay as you go. That is.. if you want SPARK, pay for it. My parents, and grandparents simply can not afford these non essential entitlements. Also, there are too many teachers. Smaller class sizes do not equate to better testing. There are plenty of studies that show that. What is being proposed tonight will not hobble the District but is on the path of righting it!!

Posted By: Get Real | Mar 24, 2011 8:31:46 PM

I am retired 65 year old living off of s.s. and my pension. When I was in school back in the 60's, there were not so many houses that there are today in the area I grew up in. Today this area is over run with homes, and high class at that. So you can imagine the school taxes these families are paying. The Lehigh Valley is by far the worse school district for teaching the young children today. I would not raise a child in this
Valley if I had to. These teachers are doing the best they can with the material they have to work with. I agree with the former post of higher ups need to take a few steps back down the ladder before they cut the teachers, sports and etc out of the budget.
My question is this. Just why can't these schools work with all the money coming in today that they did not have years ago. Every where you look all the farm lands are built up with houses and children. Where is our tax dollars being spent? The valley probably is the lowest
paying school district around. These tachers struggle with their own lives and now they have to be cut down lower. I think they better redo the budget, or you will find the teachers moving to higher paying areas just like the doctors did a few years back. Then see where our children get their education from.

Posted By: shirley | Mar 24, 2011 8:41:34 PM

People are going to have to face facts and realize the well has run dry. Property owners can't keep shouldering the burden of financing schools. If people are going to gripe they should focus on comming up with a new way of financing schools like via sales tax or an income tax.

Posted By: I'm Broke | Mar 24, 2011 9:01:55 PM

I saw the Morning Call photo with the packed audience. Where were all those pinheads when the school board and Joe Lewis were doing the bondswaps and rubberstamped pay hikes?

Posted By: 48percentSweetie | Mar 24, 2011 9:11:50 PM

The comment by Maurene Schulthes to suggest a higher tax increase..she must have a screw loose.As a retiree on a fixed income, we do all we can to get by. Find another way to fix the mess the school district is in. One way have all BASD employees pay for their own benefits. They have been on the band wagon long enough.

Posted By: Retired | Mar 24, 2011 9:21:16 PM

Ghetto builders in Big Education attracted the Third World of NY/NJ in order to maximize the number of warehoused students to get more state, federal and local monies. Now the Great Society cadre are in a bind. No more rubberstamped payhikes from the stooge school boards.

Posted By: 48percentSweetie | Mar 24, 2011 9:21:26 PM

The main point is the kids- our future is in the hands of thier education. They are the leaders in the years ahead. Budget cuts- cut salaries-tax companies for development. Tax renters that are not paying relestate tax and have 10 kids going to the schools. The ones that have food stamps from 2 different sources and free lunches and given all the grants. The middle class are the ones at the largest loss here. The poor will be given all the programs to pick them up and we all pay the bills. Why not lower the super's salary. Is the Mayor fighting for our kids like he is for Jeff Parks and the builders that pay the way for his wants . The kids are our future. Cutting education is the largest mistake. Corbett won the biggest loser award for no brains !!!!

Posted By: Bethparent | Mar 24, 2011 9:28:50 PM

Pay as you go!! do away with non-essential services. If you want your child to play sports pay for it! The people of Bethlehem can not afford any more taxes. Save the teachers and smaller class sizes but do we need so many coaches? Do we need to pay principals, school board, superintendents so much money?? If you want sports or non-essential programs, volunteer and fund raise but leave the taxes alone!

Posted By: can't afford it | Mar 24, 2011 10:14:39 PM

Hate to tell you, but a coach's salary averages out to less than $1 per hour.

Posted By: Andy Ried | Mar 24, 2011 10:32:11 PM

WOW, The brightest comment I have heard all night long. HAPPENS, GET OVER IT! Really, do you have children, and if you do are they in school, graduated? It's called selfishness, and let me tell you, Ihave seen and heard alot of it lately. Nobody can afford to pay higher taxes, and our children shouldnt have to do without activities/sports/lower education.

And as I agree with a few of you here, the Elderly are taking a hit right now. How far does ones social security really go. Honestly for my mom, it pas her mortgage every month and thats it. It's a good thing she still chooses to work, otherwise the city would sink her.

What it all comes down to is this. Nobody is thinking of the long term effect, but do they ever. How many kids are struggling now, and how man schools are not even up to standard on the PSSA Scores. How many more families who are on welfare/food stamps/cash assistance will ever attempt to get a job and attempt to support themselves. How many elderly/handicap who deserve to be on welfare help, are going to suffer due to higher taxes, providing they own a home. And honestly exactly how many higher up positions would ever have the bravery to take a pay cut. I was always taught at work that when cuts needed to be made, it was to always cut the people who were making the most, and it was by hours.
There are just so many decisions that need to be altered. I also agree with the one statement made, that if a child wants to participate in a sport that there should be sign up fees, fundraising, etc. That has been mentioned a long way back alredy, and it never passed through. I myself pay for my girls to do competative cheerleading, and its more money then imaginable. But sometimes thats what as to be done, just not 100% sure if the district is allowed/capable of doing that.
As far as boycotting musikfest, haha, sorry, iknow its tons of money, but thats my time to enjoy my vacation with my daughters, and to meet up with alot of friends.

Posted By: Tina Mellon | Mar 24, 2011 10:45:10 PM

Corbett also wants to implement a voucher program that eventually would cost $1 billion by giving either tax money to families or tax credits to businesses to help finance children's education at private and parochial schools.

This is what happens when you elect a Catholic. He wants to fund Catholic education with taxpayers money.

The entire Fifth fleet is anchored in the Gulf right off the coast of Bahrain. Yes, the entire Fifth fleet. Google it if you want, or look it up elsewhere, or however you think you can find it. Once you do, let me know how much you think it's costing, per day, to park the entire Fifth fleet in the Persian Gulf, each and every day.

As long as you give a free pass to fleecings such as that, with nary even a mention, you people deserve every thing you get.

Posted By: Sheep | Mar 25, 2011 12:23:19 AM

The BASD Board is dysfunctional, to some extent incompetent and its former President had a political agenda that was counterproductive at times. Over the past 10 years, the District has spent over $800 million on bricks and mortar including, among other things, a new swimming pool at Liberty as part of a $66 million project. Academic results, however, continue to be mediocre. The solution-BLAME JOE LEWIS. BLAME CORBETT. RAISE TAXES. At the same time the District foolishly left $15 million plus on the table regarding the Martin Tower financing, a financing that involved absolutely NO financial risk or guarantee to or by the District.

Now, the real disaster will result if vouchers are not enacted and Catholic schools close. If this occurs, the District takes an immediate $20 million annual hit and a one-time capital expenditure hit of more than $20 million.

Oh happy day!!

Posted By: rockne | Mar 25, 2011 5:12:07 AM

Don't have 15 kids you can't afford, then screem for everyone else to fork up. The entitlements are killing us all. Time to go back to taking care of your own instead of demanding society to do it.

Posted By: Eyes Right | Mar 25, 2011 8:26:49 AM

Let's stop crying tears for public ed. For years they've been part of the game of raising taxes without results - if fact the lower the results the more we keep paying. This has one purpose - drive people away from choice - from choosing anything other thjan the govt. schools. Where were all the tears when private/parochial schools had to close? These were cheap/effective alternatives to public ed and we couldn't choose because taxes far outpaced tithing - voluntary giving.

Posted By: Erwin Rysz | Mar 25, 2011 9:11:49 AM

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